Comments on: Straws in the Wind? http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/ Politics and world events from a moderately liberal and conservative perspective Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:31:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Pat http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6046 Pat Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:18:52 +0000 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6046 Anybody wanna bet that inside of 20 years we'll be selling them the lastest version of the F-22 or some variant coming out in the future? Between the mistakes made in regard to our foreign policies to the fact or idea that Iran fancies itself as the "Empire of the Middle East" regaining past glories of Sardis et. al. I certainly would wait until the chickens are fully grown! Hope the troops keep lookin' over their shoulders! Anybody wanna bet that inside of 20 years we’ll be selling them the lastest version of the F-22 or some variant coming out in the future?

Between the mistakes made in regard to our foreign policies to the fact or idea that Iran fancies itself as the “Empire of the Middle East” regaining past glories of Sardis et. al. I certainly would wait until the chickens are fully grown! Hope the troops keep lookin’ over their shoulders!

]]> By: Kevin Sullivan http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6044 Kevin Sullivan Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:12:33 +0000 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6044 There is a very distinct strand of survivalism throughout the Iranian mullahocracy. Not just in Afghanistan, but recall the hostage crisis, Iran-Contra, etc. khomeini absolutely hated the West, but he and Rafsanjani both knew that they would need our help to keep pushing against Saddam. I do hope that this can continue to be a bridiging mechanism, however we must keep Iran's regional motives in mind. It doesn't favor them to have a chaotic Iran next door to them any more than it did to have a chaotic Afghanistan next to them. These are all pragmatic measures of survival, and we mustn't confuse them for moderatism, or whatever. There is a very distinct strand of survivalism throughout the Iranian mullahocracy. Not just in Afghanistan, but recall the hostage crisis, Iran-Contra, etc.

khomeini absolutely hated the West, but he and Rafsanjani both knew that they would need our help to keep pushing against Saddam.

I do hope that this can continue to be a bridiging mechanism, however we must keep Iran’s regional motives in mind. It doesn’t favor them to have a chaotic Iran next door to them any more than it did to have a chaotic Afghanistan next to them. These are all pragmatic measures of survival, and we mustn’t confuse them for moderatism, or whatever.

]]> By: wj http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6042 wj Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:02:57 +0000 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6042 Just to be clear, I am <i>not</i> suggesting that this is "just spin" from the US military. I am, in fact, assuming that it is an accurate assessment. (I may be wrong, of course. But that's what I am assuming in my post.) No, what I am concerned about is that an attempt by Iran to be helpful, and to open up some non-hostile interaction with the US, will be greeted by the Bush administration with another kick in the teeth. I certainly have no brief for the Iranian government. But compared to some of our nominal allies (e.g. the current Pakistani government) they have actually looked relatively supportive on a couple of fronts. Why are we not at least trying to work <i>with</i> these people? Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that this is “just spin” from the US military. I am, in fact, assuming that it is an accurate assessment. (I may be wrong, of course. But that’s what I am assuming in my post.)

No, what I am concerned about is that an attempt by Iran to be helpful, and to open up some non-hostile interaction with the US, will be greeted by the Bush administration with another kick in the teeth. I certainly have no brief for the Iranian government. But compared to some of our nominal allies (e.g. the current Pakistani government) they have actually looked relatively supportive on a couple of fronts. Why are we not at least trying to work with these people?

]]> By: rudi666 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6040 rudi666 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:34:25 +0000 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6040 I'm siding with WJ and guessing that this is just the latest "spin" from US military spokesmen. Sadr is the convienant (sp)bogeyman, what about DAWA and SCIRI(Hakim)? ALISSA J. RUBIN is probably writing from a cubicle in NYC, she ain't no John Burns. I'm wrong on Rubin: <blockquote>In August of 2007, Rubin was named deputy bureau chief in the Baghdad bureau of The New York Times.</blockquote> But the Burns statement still stands. I’m siding with WJ and guessing that this is just the latest “spin” from US military spokesmen. Sadr is the convienant (sp)bogeyman, what about DAWA and SCIRI(Hakim)?

ALISSA J. RUBIN is probably writing from a cubicle in NYC, she ain’t no John Burns.
I’m wrong on Rubin:

In August of 2007, Rubin was named deputy bureau chief in the Baghdad bureau of The New York Times.

But the Burns statement still stands.

]]> By: wj http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6038 wj Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:26:53 +0000 http://poligazette.com/2007/11/18/straws-in-the-wind/#comment-6038 I really hope that this is accurate, and that some kind of discussions are going on. But I have a bad feeling, because I remember the last time. The Iranians, you may recall, were very helpful in getting things settled down in Afghanistan after we went in there. "Very professional" was the description used by US diplomats to describe their Iranian counterparts. And their reward for this assistance? A few weeks later Iran got grouped with Iraq and North Korea in Bush's "axis of evil." Makes me think I should definitely wait to count these chickens until they are not only hatched, but full grown. I really hope that this is accurate, and that some kind of discussions are going on. But I have a bad feeling, because I remember the last time.

The Iranians, you may recall, were very helpful in getting things settled down in Afghanistan after we went in there. “Very professional” was the description used by US diplomats to describe their Iranian counterparts.

And their reward for this assistance? A few weeks later Iran got grouped with Iraq and North Korea in Bush’s “axis of evil.” Makes me think I should definitely wait to count these chickens until they are not only hatched, but full grown.

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